The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-29
THE SWELL BALLET OF JAPAN.
The Maiko-Girls in Gorgeous Fabrics
Glide About

The Ma1kO-G1rl5 In gorgeous Fabrics
Glide About.
From. the London Times
Kioto, as the Mikado's capital and the
centre of aristocratic residence, was always
famous, and is famous still, for the variety
and excellence of its dances, as well as for
the beauty, grace, and skill of the perform
ers. whose accomplishments are household
word in Japan. No visitor should leave
Kioto without seeing a Mako entertain
ment. For centuries it was the chief school
of the art, produced its own high-class types,
in which the object always aimed at was to
4 preserve, amid all variety, the courtly ele-
II pance and dignity and beautiful apparel of
the ancient styles. Such, for example, is
the Shirabiyoshi, a pure Kioto dance of con
siderable antiquity And such, though of
modern date, is the Miyako-Odori, or metro
politan dance, devised barely twenty wears
AGO by late director of the dancing society
of kloto.
y A representation of this refined dance has
lust been prepared for the stage with great
care in honor of the Mikado's visit, and had
an opportunity of witnessing its performance
H few evenings ago,
The theatre is of plain unvarnished and I'M
PAINTED wood, the most striking features be-
ing the ponderous roof, carried Oh a single
span of some fifty feet, and the high ex-
cellence of the carpenters and joiners' work
Besides the main stage in front, there are
two narrower stages, occupying the right
and left sides of the building. On the fourth
side, facing the main stage is large room
like box for the imperial family and court
and in front of it two or three tiers of raised
seats, plainly a modern innovation. The
body of the auditorium, occupying the
Il space between the side stages, is fat I'M
divided matted area, in, or rather on,
which the spectators sit in japanese fash
ion, and solace themselves with their tinv
pipes of fragrant tobacco and little cups of
tea.
On entering we find the stages concealed
by curtains Of white silk Grape, painted with
pine, bamboo, and plum trees, the emblems
of longevity, vigor. and fragrance These
4 are the only decorations, The lighting is
footlights, with candles for the stage, and
hanging lamps and rows of candles for the
rest of the interior.
On the rise of the curtains the scene in
front represents a summer house in the
grounds of the Mikado's palace, girt by a
veranda with red lacquered steps and rail
ings, and hung with bamboo blinds. Right
and left, on each side stage, is a crimson
dais, on which are seated eight girl musicians,
Or getshd, from about Is to 20 years of age,
clothed in soft raiment of brilliant hues, and
got UP from head to foot in the highest style
4 of Japanese art,
The eight on the right are players of the
somisen species of three stringed guitar,
the chords of which are struck with an ivory
plectrum. OF those on the left four play the
tsllzunli, a small drum held in the air and
struck with the hand the other four per-
forming alternately with the taiko, or fiat
drum, and bells of delicate tone Music and
singing are at once begun. These are of the
Quaint and, for the most part, somewhat
dismal type peculiar to the higher flights of
the musical art in Japan. One must be a
japanese to appreciate them. Time and
tune, however, are evidently well kept, and
the performance is doubtless good of its
kind. After a short overture, the Mako
appear, entering at the extremities of the
side stages, right and left of the imperial
box, and moving in single file toward the
nam stage. Their advance, extremely slow,
can only be described as a progress. 1t is
not march; neither is it dance as we I'M
derStand the term. Stately almost to
solemnity, yet full of grace, it is a
series of artistic posturings and panto-
mime in time with the music and accom-
panied by the slowest possible forward move
ment
By the time all of the donseuses have en-
tered there are 10 on either side-young girls
Of from about Is to II years old In dress
they are counterpartS of the musicians
aglow with scarlet light blue, white, and
gold, IN robes of great length and volumin-
Gus folds, bound with girdles of truly
prodigious dimensions. In spite, however,
Of the gorgeous coloring, there is nothing
garlsh or dlstasteful to the eye. No conon of
art or taste is offended. The secret lies in
the fabric of the girls garments-silk Grape,
the delicate softneSS of which relieves the
6rllliancy of tints that might otherwise be
, displeasing.
In person the Mako are the prettiest little
specimens of budding japanese girlhood,
rossy-hpped and black-eyed, with comely and
dellcate features, tiny hands and feet and
an air Of graceful modesty and innocence
rarely seen ON any stage. As for their
couture, it is a miracle of the Japanese hair
dreSsers skill, and rich with adornments of
s'owers and coral. How much of their
beauty these dainty little lasses may owe to
art 1t might be unkind to inquire too closely
kloto is famed for its manufacture of
Shirot, white lead cosmetic of rare virtue,
ana said to be used with a skill which West
ern ladies of fashion would give good deal
10 possess. But surely there can be little
need for it here, if we may judge from the
whlteness of the Maiko's hands and OF as
hluchof her arms as is now and then re
Vealed to us. There is also Japanese rouge
Oh great merit, which uncharitable persons
might suspect of having share in the bril-
nancy OF those threads of scarlet" the
"ialhOS lips.
Tiny ra2ors, too, are even supposed by
some malignant minds to play part in the
ninety penciled eyebrows of japanese bellies
rams, OF course, play prominent part in the
intricate gestures of the Mako. Those car
iled now are large and circular, and richly
Dedecked with red and white flowers. With
l.nese, as with their heads, hands, limbs and
bodies, the files display to the full, on their
STOW progress up the theatre, that music of
HI,otion which so delights the eyes of the
japanese Thus, turning, bowling, swaying
Aleeing, and waving, always gracefully
i allt IN time with the music, the ranks at
length meet on the front stage, pass one
aeiIlother, and retire again down the sides, at
Une END Of which they turn, form into pairs,
anu regain the stage one wing soon leaving
~ Whlie the other continues the dance be-
i 10 the footlights for a few minutes, when
u also retireS.
All this while the music goes on, now sad
anu SLOW, anon in livelier strains, and is ac-
e1Lhpanled by the voices of the SdDlisen
payers, chanting a hymn of happiness,
rpfV!sperity, and peace, in which the regin
~ our Lord the Mikadon is likened, in
,mghly flowery language, TO the beauty and
S.ra l of nature sat this first dawn Of
NeXt, tine bamboo blinds of the veranda are
, Va, revealing the first squadron of dancers
RosIufed IN picturesque groups between a
pf Al.